Holder for telephone directories and the like



1959 E. M. DMOCHOWSKI- 2,900,087

HOLDER FOR TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 16, 1957 I IIIIIIIII/(IIIIIIIIII/III/I/I/I/l e 'I/IIIII/III/I/IIIII/l INVENTOR EUGENE M. DMOCHOWSK/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 7 HOLDER FOR TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES AND THE LIKE Eugene M. Dmochowski, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application August 16, 1957, Serial No. 678,695

'4 Claims. (Cl. 211-90) This invention relates to holders for directories, books, and similar objects. More particularly, the invention has reference to an improved holder, so designed as to support a telephone directory or similar object in a conveniently accessible manner, so that it will be readily available to a user.

A further object is to provide a support for telephone directories which will hold the book stationary at all times.

Another object is to provide a holder of the character described which will be particularly designed for adjustment to a plurality of difierent positions, so that the telephone book can be supported either vertically or in an inclined position, from a vertical wall surface, according to the desires of the particular user.

Another object is to provide a holder for telephone directories which will include means for preventing the directory from movement from its properly supported position, said means being of the bail type and being so designed as to constitute, at the same time, means adjustable relative to a supporting surface for disposing the directory support plate of the invention in an inclined position in respect to said supporting surface.

Another object is to provide a holder of the character described which will be usable to advantage not only on vertical wall surfaces, but also on horizontal surface, such as desks or tables.

Yet another object is to provide a holder for telephone directories which will be designed to facilitate insertion or removal of the directory, with minimum difliculty so far as the user is concerned.

Another object of importance is to provide a holder of the type described which will be usable not only for supporting telephone directories, but may also be used, when made in a larger size, as a portable drafting table. It is further proposed that the construction will be adapted to permit use of the device as a lectern, and of course, it will be understood that various other uses may suggest themselves, and are to be considered as being embraced within the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed. v

These together with other objects and advantages which will subsequently become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telephone directory holder according to the present invention as it appears when supported in vertical position, on a vertical Wall surface;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view on the same cutting plane as Figure 2, in which the plate has been adjusted to a tilted or inclined position in respect to the vertical wall surface; and

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the device on a 2,900,087 Patented Aug. 18, 1959 reduced scale, as it appears when in use upon a horizontal support surface.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 designates a support plate, formed as a wide, flat member from sheet metal, plastic or the like. Plate 10 has a slightly reduced lower end portion, resulting from the provision of shoulders 12 which narrow the plate from the'shoulders to the lower end of the plate. Integral or otherwise made rigid with the lower edge of the plate is a forwardly projecting support flange or ledge 14.

In the wider, upper portion of plate 10, in closely spaced relation to and above the shoulders 12, there are formed narrow, short, closed slots 16 extending longitudinally of the plate. The material of the plate is pressed forwardly over slightly less than the full distance between the slots, along a straight line extending transversely of the slots, providing an elongated sleeve portion 18. The material of the plate is pressed rearwardly in the space between each slot and the adjacent side edge surface of the panel or support plate, providing short sleeve portions 20. Sleeve portions 18, 20 (see Figures 2 and 3) cooperate to define a bearing sleeve extending transversely of the plate in the plane of the plate, receiving an elongated pivot or hinge rod 22 which is thus also disposed in the plane of plate 10. This supports, for pivotal movement upon the plate 10, a holding or retaining rod or bail 24, formed with side portions 26 disposed in a plane common to that of the rod. Thus, a U-shaped holding member for a telephone directory D or other supported object is provided, cooperating with ledge 14 in holding the directory in properly supported position.

At their inner ends, the side portions 26 of the holding member are integral with flat, widened bases 28 having center openings 28 receiving the end portions of the hinged rod 22. The bases 28 are integral with extensions 30 of the respective side portions 26, said extensions 30 being disposed in back of the plate 10 and having their lengths to right angles to the lengths of the side portions 26, said extensions 30 lying in a common plane perpendicular to the plane of the rod 24 and side portions 26. When the rod 24 and side portions 26 are disposed in position to receive the telephone directory, the common plane thereof is perpendicular to the plane of the plate 10 and furthermore, the extensions 30 extend upwardly in contact with the back surface of plate 10 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Medially between opposite sides of plate 10, there is secured to the front surface of the plate a keeper 34 which may be formed from a length of spring material anchored at its lower end to the plate 10 and extending upwardly, withthe 'free end of the keeper inclined forwardly to permit insertion of the rod. The keeper is adapted to be pivoted about the axis defined by the pin 32 that connects the keeper to the plate 10, so as to permit the rod 24 to be swung upwardly into engagement with the plate 10 as shown in Figure 3. In these circumstances, the keeper is returned to its Figure 1 position, so as to overlie the rod 24 and engage the same in its upwardly swung position shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Designated at 36 is a transverse, elongated hinge sleeve rolled out of the material of the upper plate 10. Freely rotatable in the sleeve 36 is a support rod 38, the ends of which project out of the sleeve and are formed with upwardly, outwardly directed eyes 40' receiving the shanks of screws 42 or equivalent fastening elements, whereby the device is suspended from a wall surface W.

In use, it will be assumed that the device is to hang vertically as in Figures 1 and 2. Accordingly, the directory is placed on the ledge 14, with the directory being inserted through the bail while the bail is in its normal, Figure 1 position. The directory is thus firmly supported upon the ledge and will be stationarily held, though being conveniently accessible'to a user.

If it is desired to have the directory supported at an incline in respectto the wall W, one merely removes the directory, and sWingsthe'biiilupto its Figure 3 'position, latching the'same in said .positionbymeans of the keeper or latch 34. This'has the result"of.'automatically swinging the extensions 30 downwardly, {topositions in which they project rearwardly from plate perpendicular'ly to the plane of the plate 10, to contact wall W and serve as spacers that support theplate 10 in a position inclined in respect to the wall.

In Figure 4 .the device is shownjsupportedupona horizontal supporting surface S. The parts in'this event are kept in the position .shown in Figure 3, .and when in such position, will dispose the plate 10 at an incline of 45 to the horizontal support surface.

It will be seen that in all forms of the invention, there is the desirable feature wherein the telephone directory or similar object is effectively, firmly supported, and it is a characteristic of the invention that -themeans that serves to retain the directory on the ledge also is designed for adjustment to cause a back part of said means, namely the extensions 30, to engage a supporting surface whether said surface be horizontal or vertical,.to hold the device at an incline in respect to said supporting surface.

All these desirable results are achieved by the coactive relationship of the several features of the invention. Obviously, the suspension means .36, 38, 40, .42 cooperates with the pivoted bracket means including the arms 30, in supporting the plate atian incline in respect to the vertical wall surface as in Figure 3. At the same time, when the bracket is swung to its Figure '1 position, it will cooperate with the plate in supporting a telephone directory. Still further, the particular location and proportions of the arms 30 in respect to the lower and upper ends of thep-late, cause the plate to be supported in properly tilted positions, both on a vertical wall sunface as in Figure 3 and on a horizontal surface as in Figure 4. In other words, the proportions of the arms 30 will locatethe plane of the plate at .a slight inclination of the vertical when the device is on avertical wall surface as in Figure 3. When, however, the device is on a horizontal surface as .in Figure 4, the location and proportions of the parts will locate the plate atan .angle of approximately 45 to the horizontal surface.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An article support comprising a flat sheet member constituting a backing plate for the supported article; a ledge projecting forwardly from said plate to provide a rest supporting the article against movement downwardly of the plate; a retaining bail {for the supported article pivoted on the plate above said ledge, said bail being swingable to a position in which it projects forwardly from the plate so as .to extend in front of the supported article and thus engage said article against movement forwardly outwardly from the plate; and a latch on the plate disposed for releasably engaging the bail in a second position thereof, the bail in said second position overlying the plate in face to face contact therewith, said tbail being swingable through between its first and second position, .the bail when in its first position lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the plate, whereby to dispose the bail, when in its second position, parallel to said plane of the plate, said bail including arms projecting rearwardly from said bail at opposite sides of the bail in perpendicular relation to said plane of the bail to dispose said arms in contact with the back surface of the plate in the first position of the bail, and in position projecting rearwardly cfromthe plate at right angles to the plane of the plate when the bail is in its second position retained by said latch, said arms in the second position of the bail being adapted for gated, transversely extending rod passing through the bail at opposite sides thereof 'to support the bail for said pivotal movement, the plate having opposite sleeve portions struck out of the material thereof .and cooperating to 'define a sleeve through which the rod extends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 672,278 Merrill Apr. 16, 1901 1,058,449 Mayer Apr. 8, 1913 1,710,731 Hawkins Apr. 30, 1929 1,810,205 Gensmer June 16, 1931 2,192,574 Hancher Mar. 5, 1940 2,250,808 Lynch July 29, 1941 2,758,724 Schneider Aug. '14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 148,953 Austria Mar. 25, 1937 170,050 Austria Jan. 10, 1952 

